The curtain for a series of activities In Commemoration of 10th Anniversary of Establishment of Diplomatic Relations between China and Korea sponsored jointly by the two governments of Korea and China, is officially drawn back on March 29th in Seoul.

At the reception held at Hotel Shilla in Seoul, Nam Kong Jin, Senior Officer of Korean Ministry of Culture and Sightseeing, reads out Korean President Kim Dae-jung's speech of congratulation to the opening of the activities. In his speech he says this year is a year of far-reaching significance, the 10th anniversary of the establishment of the diplomatic relations between Korea and china. In the past 10 years, the relationship between Korea and China has developed by leaps and bounds in diplomatic, economic, social and cultural fields. The ratio and importance of the substantial cooperation between the two nations are growing day by day. It'll not only benefit the mutual prosperities of the two nations but also make great contributions to the stability and prosperity of the Korean Peninsula and even the whole Asia.

Kim Dae-jung expresses his heartfelt congratulations to the achievements made by the Chinese people. He says Korea and China have all the conditions available to become mutual friendly partners. The Korean Government and the nongovernmental organizations will take the Year of Exchanges as a good opportunity to organize rich and colorful exchanging activities so as to promote a further development of the friendly cooperation between the two nations and to lay a solid foundation for the magnificent future of the two nations.

Minister Sun Jiazheng of the Cultural Ministry of China says in his speech that to strengthen the cultural exchanges and cooperation and to promote the mutual understanding and friendship between the peoples of China and Korea will promote to a new stage the relationship of cooperation partnership facing 21st century that has already been established between the two nations. That is the original intention why the leaders of the two nations decided to make the 10th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations as the Year of Exchanges between the Peoples of China and Korea as well as the target for both nations to make efforts.

It is known that during his visit to Korea in October 2000 Premier Zhu Rongji of the State Council of China reached an agreement with President Kim Dae-jung to hold A Year of Exchanges between the Peoples of China and Korea activity on the occasion of 10th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two nations.

Sun Jiazheng also says that China will organize a series of outstanding artistic performance and exhibition groups to visit Korea in the Year of Exchanges between the Peoples of China and Korea to show to the Korean audience the features of the traditional and contemporary culture and arts of China and that it is hoped that more Korean friends will participate in the activities for the Year of Exchanges so that the various kinds of exchanging activities will be more varied and colorful.

More than 300 people are present at the reception, including Lee Man-Seop, President of Korean Parliament and people from all walks of life in Korea, functionaries of the Chinese Embassy in Korea, Chinese-funded organizations,overseas Chinese in Korea, and representatives of overseas Chinese students. At the reception, Chinese artists give a brilliant performance and draw enthusiastic applauses from the participants.

(From Cultural Newspaper of China)